The
Scottish Police Federation is a Staff Association as opposed to a
Trade Union but it performs a broadly similar role. Police Officers
cannot be members of any trade union or of any association having
as its object, or one of its objects, to control or influence pay,
pensions or conditions of service of any police force. Police Officers
are not permitted to take any form of industrial action.
The Scottish Police Federation
has over 16,000 members (400 part-time), more than 98% of all police
officers in Scotland. In each of the eight Scottish Police Forces
there is a Federation Joint Branch Board, made up of a Constables'
Board, a Sergeants' Board and an Inspectors' Board. The Inspectors'
Board represents both Inspectors' and Chief Inspectors'. There are
elections to each of the Boards triennially where representatives
are elected from the members of the particular rank in the area in
which they work. The Joint Branch Board has a full-time Secretary
who is elected triennially from its members.
The Joint Central Committee is the national executive of the Federation.
It comprises three rank Committees the members of which are elected
by their own Joint Branch Boards; it has on it a member of each rank
from each Force. Because of its size (approximately 50% of all police
officers in Scotland are members of Strathclyde Police) the Strathclyde
Joint Branch Board has two members of each rank on the Joint Central
Committee.
To fulfill its statutory responsibility the Federation considers a
wide range of subjects relevant to the police service, formulates
policies and responds to Government and other consultation papers
in line with the views of its members. It negotiates the terms and
conditions of service for its members, represents them on numerous
boards and committees and provides a wide range of legal and welfare
services.
